While We're in The Yard...

Here are some shots of the blooming loveliness in our yard, taken over the past couple of months. Not all of these are still blooming, in fact, while we were away for a week there were record high temperatures and no rain which scorched our yard and quickly ended the life of several of my plants. The Daylilies are simply finished with their bloom time now, and it's time for other flowers to take up the banner of beauty. Fortunately, we're having a third day of rain now, so my blooming babies are soaking up some needed moisture!

"Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."
- Matthew 6:28-33

(Daylilies)

(Hydrangeas)

(The various Daisy type flowers in the front flower bed.)

(Geranium in a pot on the front porch which I kept over
Winter and re-planted this Spring!)

(Astilbe)

(Foxglove which volunteers in a wild area of the yard.
I hope to bring them into a tamer flower bed soon.)

At Last- I am Computing on a Whole New Level!

Just one hour ago I received my new Dell Laptop! YAY! Having waited for more than a month since my desktop computer died, it is such a relief and a blessing- not taken for granted- to have my own computing device again. Rebekah may now reclaim her laptop from me and I can learn this new wonder of technology. I am already realizing that, no matter how very wonderful this machine is, it won't increase my typing skills... hmm.

So to catch up. Alex had returned to Fort Bragg, North Carolina after dropping Kate and Bekah in South Florida. Bekah had a splendid time with friends, sun, beach and lots of swimming. Kate worked at a Christian camp as a counselor to 13-ish year-old girls, then spent a couple of weeks with friends and wedding dreams. Oh, and missing her Alex terribly. I spent the time, meanwhile, in a sort of withdrawal from the full house we had enjoyed for the month of June. Once the lovebirds are gone... well, it was quite a change of pace.

Making a long story postable I'll fast-forward to last week when our girls returned home. They arrived on Monday. On Tuesday Alex had a long and intense march, at the end of which he ended up in the hospital for several days. He had already purchased plane tickets for a visit up here this weekend, which he extended to cover the rest of his convalescent leave which was granted him upon discharge from the hospital. Alex arrived Friday evening to the delight of us all- and the overjoy of Kate.

We have been blessed by this visit, were able to celebrate his birthday last night, and he will return to Ft. Bragg tonight. At least this time I'll be able to wrap my arms around my sad Kate after she has driven away from her heart once again.

And now, some photos!

Meet our daring little friend, dubbed "evil Knievel". He climbs to the top of the wood pile, he makes death-defying leaps into the birdfeeder, and he fascinates/ frustrates the cats to distraction!

The frustrated hunter.

The blooms in the flower bed are absolutely stunning!

Waiting for Alex to arrive!

Home again.

Tender reunion

together again.

All together at church- only Nathaniel is missing...

Birthday boy!

Jim gave Alex some of his Airborne posters from when he was stationed at Fort Bragg himself,... many, many years ago.

Nothing says, "I love you," like matching Bibles...

So comfortable...

Yup, we are going to miss him all over again. Godspeed Alex.

Now Blooming!

Taking a stroll around the yard this morning I find such loveliness in the flower beds. My heart just sings at the variety of textures and colors with which God has painted His flowers. Last year I bought some sad past-bloom irises on clearance and transplanted others already in our yard. Now they are rewarding me with glorious blooms and colors.

Other shrubs and flowers are also showing their colors now, such as,

Rhododendron...

Peonies...

Foxglove...

And Columbine.

"Every good thing the people of God enjoy, they enjoy it in God's love, as a token of God's love, and coming from God's eternal love to them, and this must needs be very sweet to them." -Jeremiah Burroughs, in The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment.

Amen.

Army Ball, Mother's Day and stuff...

As expected, Kate had a marvelous time at the Army Ball in North Carolina. Seeing Steve was such a treat and Alex was just as nice in person as on the phone. From going to the movies, to taking them to get their hair done to midnight snacks of Ben & Jerry's a great time was had by all. The Ball itself was, according to Kate, more like a High School dance- with plenty of booze- so it didn't quite live up to Jane Austin's descriptions. But getting all dressed up and being escorted by a handsome and gentlemanly, (and sober!) soldier made up for what was lacking in atmosphere...

Kate and Alex

One major highlight for Kate was the day after the Ball when the guys took the girls to the shooting range! Kate had a blast- ahem- learning to shoot a 9 mm handgun and a Colt 45. In fact, my baby did rather well and fairly impressed those Airborne Infantrymen! Steve declared that she could snipe with the 45 after watching her grouping her shots so nice and tight. Takes after her Momma... Those boys sure know how to show a girl a good time!




Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Mother's Day was a whole weekend for me, thanks to my sweet family. Flowers arrived on Saturday, sent by Nathaniel from Hawaii! Such a beautiful arrangement, they are still beautifying the dining room. When he called though, his voice seemed strained, and it turns out that he had broken a finger two days before while playing football! He went to get it checked out and wrapped up. Another vivid reminder that my firstborn is out on his own and taking care of himself now. Wow.


Sunday morning I was surprised by a number of gifts awaiting me outside. Springtime being planting time, and our home being ours, I've been planting things that will last a long time. My dear children helped that cause along by choosing shrubs that I've been eye-ing in others' yards which will now adorn our yard as well! Not only things to plant, but a birdbath for our feathered friends too! We set it right where we can see it from the windows in the front of the house.

...and Whoopie pies too!

Dappled Willow, cute little multi-colored shrub.
Bird Bath!
Scotch Broom, the flowers are a favorite with Hummingbirds and Butterflies.
Azalea with yellow/orange blooms- unusual!

And speaking of our feathered friends, I caught a photo- through the window, of our little neighbors who have moved into the gourd on the lamp post! Isn't he cute?

For dinner Sunday, Bekah made a baked French Toast dish with pecans, which was fabulous! So nice, not just to have a weekend off-duty, but to relax with the kids and enjoy one another. We had made a point to "schedule" absolutely nothing for the weekend so that it didn't fill up with running hither and yon the way most weekends seem to. Relaxing, refreshing and simply nice. Aaaahhh.